Pedal assembly with an enlarged oval movement travel for a stepping exerciser

ABSTRACT

A pedal assembly has a base, a rail, a slider, a pedal and a transmission assembly. The base has a pivotal bracket mounted on the top at the front end. The rail is securely attached to the top of the base. The slider is slidably mounted on the rail. The pedal is securely mounted on the slider. The transmission assembly is mounted between the base and the slider to move the slider with the pedal along an enlarged oval movement travel and has a driven rod, a connecting rod, a lever and a connecting member. The driven rod is rotatably mounted on the base. The connecting rod is rotatably mounted on the base and is connected to the driven rod with a transmission device. The lever is pivotally connected to the driven rod. The connecting member is connected pivotally between the lever and the slider.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a pedal assembly, and more particularly to a pedal assembly for a stepping exerciser and having an enlarged oval movement travel.

2. Description of Related Art

With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, a conventional stepping exerciser substantially comprises a body (40), two handles (41), a rotating device (42) and two pedals (44). The handles (41) are pivotally connected to the body (40) and are respectively connected to the pedals (44) with pedal holding rods (43). The pedal holding rods (43) are pivotally connected to the rotating device (42). When a user stands on the pedals (44) and holds the handles (41) to pivot the handles (41), the pedals (44) will move with the handles (41) along an oval movement travel with the transmission of the rotating device (42). Accordingly, an exercising effect is provided.

However, because the conventional pedals (44) of the stepping exerciser are secured on holding rods (43) that are directly connected to the rotating device (42), the travels of the pedals (44) are limited and not long enough and the exercising effect provided by the conventional stepping exerciser is so limited.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to provide a pedal assembly to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the invention is to provide a pedal assembly for a stepping exerciser and having an enlarged oval movement travel to improve the exercising effect provided by the stepping exerciser.

The pedal assembly has a base, a rail, a slider, a pedal and a transmission assembly. The base has a pivotal bracket mounted on the top at the front end of the base. The rail is securely attached to the top of the base. The slider is slidably mounted on the rail. The pedal is securely mounted on the slider. The transmission assembly is mounted between the base and the slider to move the slider with the pedal along an enlarged oval movement travel and has a driven rod, a connecting rod, a lever and a connecting member. The driven rod is rotatably mounted on the base. The connecting rod is rotatably mounted on the base and is connected to the driven rod with a transmission device. The lever is pivotally connected to the driven rod. The connecting member is connected pivotally between the lever and the slider.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stepping exerciser with pedal assemblies in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the stepping exerciser with one pedal assembly in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view in partial section of the pedal assembly in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the stepping exerciser with the pedal assemblies in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 5 to 7 are side views of the stepping exerciser with the pedal assemblies in FIG. 1 showing that the stepping exerciser is in operation;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a conventional stepping exerciser with conventional pedals in accordance with the prior art; and

FIG. 9 is a side view of the convention stepping exerciser in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, a pedal assembly (10) for a stepping exerciser (30) that has a body, two handles (31) and a rotating device (32) comprises a base (11), a rail (15), a slider (16), a pedal (17) and a transmission assembly (20).

The base (11) is an enlarged element and has a top, a front end and a rear end. A pivotal bracket (12) is mounted on the top at the front end of the base (11) to pivotally connect with one handle (31) of the stepping exerciser (30).

The rail (15) is securely attached to the top of the base (11), and the slider (16) is slidably mounted on the rail (15). In practice, the rail (15) comprises a top board (151), two rail plates (152) and two side walls (153). The top board (151) is an enlarged element and has a bottom and two sides. The rail plates (152) extend from the bottom of the top board (151) and define a channel between the rail plates (152) to hold the base (11) inside. Each rail plate (152) has a bottom flange (1521) extending outward from the rail plate (152) and opposite to each other. In addition, two securing tabs (155) are attached to bottom flanges (1521) with fasteners to keep the base (11) from escaping from the channel.

The side walls (153) extend from the bottom of the top board (151) respectively at two sides of the top board (151) and correspond respectively to the rail plates (152) to define two rail spaces between the side walls (153) and the corresponding rail plates (152). Each side wall (153) has a rail flange (154) extending inward from the side wall (153), facing to each other and corresponding to the bottom flange (1521) on a corresponding one of the rail plates (152). In a preferred embodiment, each rail flange (154) on the rail (15) has a curved cross section.

The slider (16) comprises a top panel (161), two side frames (162) and multiple wheels (165). The top panel (161) has a bottom and two sides.

The side frames (162) extend from the top panel (161) respectively at the sides of the top panel (161). Each side frame (162) has a wheel mount (164) formed on the side frame (162), corresponds to one of the side walls (153) on the rail (15) and extends to a corresponding one of the rail spaces between the corresponding side wall (153) and a corresponding rail plate (152) of the rail (15).

The wheels (165) are rotatably and respectively attached to the wheel mounts (164) of the side frames (162), are held respectively inside the rail spaces in the rail (15) and abut respectively with the rail flanges (154) on the side walls (153) of the rail (15). In practice, two wheels (165) are mounted on each wheel mount (164) respectively at two ends of the wheel mount (164). With the arrangement of the wheels (165), the slider (16) can smoothly move relative to the rail (15).

The pedal (17) is securely attached to and moves with the slider (16).

The transmission assembly (20) is mounted between the base (11) and the slider (16) to make the slider (16) to move along an enlarged oval movement travel and comprises a driven rod (22), a connecting rod (21), an idle rod (23), a transmission device, a lever (25) and a connecting member (27).

The driven rod (22), the connecting rod (21) and the idle rod (23) are rotatably mounted on the base (11) near the rear end of the base (11). To rotatably mount the rods (21,22,23) onto the base (11), a connecting rod hole (111), a driven rod hole (112) and an idle rod hole (113) are defined in the base (11) near the rear end of the base (11). In practice, the connecting rod hole (111) is defined through the base (10). The driven rod hole (112) is defined in the top of the base (11) near the rear end and between the front end and the connecting rod hole (111). The idle rod hole (113) is defined in the top of the base (11) near the rear end and between the rear end and the connecting rod hole (111). Accordingly, the driven rod hole (112) and the idle rod hole (113) are located at a position above that of the connecting rod hole (111). Three sleeves (114,115,116) are securely mounted in the rod holes (111,112,113), and the driven rod (22), connecting rod (21) and idle rod (23) are rotatably and respectively in the sleeves (114,115,116). The connecting rod (21) has a connecting end (212) adapted to be connected to the rotating device (32) of the stepping exerciser (30) and a driving end (211).

The transmission device is mounted between the driven rod (22), the connecting rod (21) and the idle rod (23) to drive the driven rod (22) to rotate in a rotation direction same as that of the idle rod (23) but opposite to that of the connecting rod (21). In a preferred embodiment, the transmission device comprises a driven gear (221), a connecting gear (213), an idle gear (231) and a belt (24). The driven gear (221) is securely mounted on the driven rod (22). The connecting gear (213) is securely mounted near the driving end (211) of the connecting rod (21). The idle gear (231) is securely mounted on the idle rod (23). The belt (24) is mounted around the driven gear (221), the connecting gear (213) and the idle gear (231) in a manner of making a rotation direction of the driven gear (221) same as that of the idle gear (231) but opposite to that of the connecting gear (213). The gears (213, 221,231) have respectively multiple teeth with a same amount. In the preferred embodiment, the driven gear (221) and the idle gear (231) are mounted inside and engage with the belt (24) but the connecting gear (213) is mounted outside and engages with the belt (24). Accordingly, when the connecting rod (21) is rotated in a rotating direction, the driven rod and the idle rod (23) will be rotated in an opposite direction. In an alternative embodiment, the driven gear (221) engages directly with the connecting gear (213) to make the driven rod (22) and the connecting rod (21) rotating in opposite directions. At this time, the belt (24), the idle rod (23) and the idle gear (231) can be omitted.

The lever (25) is pivotally connected to the driven rod (22).

The connecting member (27) is connected pivotally between the lever (25) and the slider (16) with two pivotal joints (26,28) and may be V-shaped.

With pedal assemblies (10) in accordance with the present invention being attached to the stepping exerciser (30), a user stands on the pedals (17) and holds the handles (31) to operate the exerciser (30). With reference to FIGS. 4 to 7, when the user pivots the handles (31) relative to the body of the exerciser (30), the base (11) of each pedal assembly (10) is moved with the corresponding handle (31). Consequently, the rotating device (32) of the stepping exerciser (30) will be rotated with the connecting rod (21) on the base (11), such that the base (11) will move along an oval movement travel relative to the body of the stepping exerciser (30).

When the connecting rod (21) move along a round travel with the rotating device (32), the connecting rod (21) will revolve and drive the driven rod (22) to rotate in an opposite direction with the transmission of the transmission device. With the rotation of the driven rod (22), the lever (25) will be pivoted and push or pull the slider (16) with the transmission of the connecting member (27) to move along the rail (15) that moves along an oval movement travel. Accordingly, the slider (16) with the pedal (17) will move along an enlarged oval movement travel relative to the body of the stepping exerciser (30), such that the travel of the pedal (17) will be prolonged, and an improved exercising effect is provided.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A pedal assembly for a stepping exerciser comprising: a base having a top; a front end; a rear end; and a pivotal bracket mounted on the top at the front end; a rail securely attached to the top of the base; a slider slidably mounted on the rail; a pedal securely mounted on the slider; and a transmission assembly mounted between the base and the slider to move the slider with the pedal along an enlarged oval movement travel and comprising a driven rod rotatably mounted on the base; a connecting rod rotatably mounted on the base and connected to the driven rod with a transmission device; a lever pivotally connected to the driven rod; and a connecting member connected pivotally between the lever and the slider.
 2. The pedal assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base comprises a connecting rod hole defined through the base near the rear end; a driven rod hole defined in the top of the base near the rear end; and two sleeves mounted respectively in the connecting rod hole and the driven rod hole; and the connecting rod and the driven rod are rotatably and respectively mounted in the sleeves on the base.
 3. The pedal assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the transmission assembly further comprises an idle rod rotatably mounted on the base; and the transmission device comprises a driven gear securely mounted on the driven rod; a connecting gear securely mounted on the connecting rod; an idle gear securely mounted on the idle rod; and a belt mounted around the driven gear, the connecting gear and the idle gear in a manner of making a rotation direction of the driven gear same as that of the idle gear but opposite to that of the connecting gear.
 4. The pedal assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the driven gear has multiple teeth with an amount; the connecting gear has multiple teeth with an amount; and the idle gear has multiple teeth with an amount, wherein the amounts of the teeth on the driven gear, the connecting gear and the idle gear are the same.
 5. The pedal assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the rail comprises a top board having a bottom and two sides; two rail plates extending from the bottom of the top board and defining a channel between the rail plates to hold the base inside and each rail plate having a bottom flange extending outward from the rail plate and opposite to each other; two side walls extending from the bottom of the top board respectively at two sides of the top board and corresponding respectively to the rail plates to define two rail spaces between the side walls and the corresponding rail plates, and each side wall having a rail flange extending inward from the side wall, facing to each other and corresponding to the bottom flange on a corresponding one of the rail plates; and two securing tabs attached to bottom flanges to keep the base from escaping from the channel; and the slider comprises a top panel having a bottom and two sides; two side frames extending from the top panel respectively at the sides of the top panel and each side frame having a wheel mount formed on the side frame, corresponding to one of the side walls on the rail and extending into a corresponding one of the rail spaces between the corresponding side wall and a corresponding rail plate of the rail; and multiple wheels rotatably and respectively attached to the wheel mounts of the side frames, held respectively inside the rail spaces in the rail and abutting respectively with the rail flanges on the side walls of the rail.
 6. The pedal assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein each rail flange on the rail has a curved cross section.
 7. The pedal assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmission assembly further comprises an idle rod rotatably mounted on the base; and the transmission device comprises a driven gear securely mounted on the driven rod; a connecting gear securely mounted on the connecting rod; an idle gear securely mounted on the idle rod; and a belt mounted around the driven gear, the connecting gear and the idle gear in a manner of making a rotation direction of the driven gear same as that of the idle gear but opposite to that of the connecting gear.
 8. The pedal assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the driven gear has multiple teeth with an amount; the connecting gear has multiple teeth with an amount; and the idle gear has multiple teeth with an amount, wherein the amounts of the teeth on the driven gear, the connecting gear and the idle gear are the same.
 9. The pedal assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the rail comprises a top board having a bottom and two sides; two rail plates extending from the bottom of the top board and defining a channel between the rail plates to hold the base inside and each rail plate having a bottom flange extending outward from the rail plate and opposite to each other; two side walls extending from the bottom of the top board respectively at two sides of the top board and corresponding respectively to the rail plates to define two rail spaces between the side walls and the corresponding rail plates, and each side wall having a rail flange extending inward from the side wall, facing to each other and corresponding to the bottom flange on a corresponding one of the rail plates; and two securing tabs attached to bottom flanges to keep the base from escaping from the channel; and the slider comprises a top panel having a bottom and two sides; two side frames extending from the top panel respectively at the sides of the top panel and each side frame having a wheel mount formed on the side frame, corresponding to one of the side walls on the rail and extending into a corresponding one of the rail spaces between the corresponding side wall and a corresponding rail plate of the rail; and multiple wheels rotatably and respectively attached to the wheel mounts of the side frames, held respectively inside the rail spaces in the rail and abutting respectively with the rail flanges on the side walls of the rail.
 10. The pedal assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein each rail flange on the rail has a curved cross section.
 11. The pedal assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rail comprises a top board having a bottom and two sides; two rail plates extending from the bottom of the top board and defining a channel between the rail plates to hold the base inside and each rail plate having a bottom flange extending outward from the rail plate and opposite to each other; two side walls extending from the bottom of the top board respectively at two sides of the top board and corresponding respectively to the rail plates to define two rail spaces between the side walls and the corresponding rail plates, and each side wall having a rail flange extending inward from the side wall, facing to each other and corresponding to the bottom flange on a corresponding one of the rail plates; and two securing tabs attached to bottom flanges to keep the base from escaping from the channel; and the slider comprises a top panel having a bottom and two sides; two side frames extending from the top panel respectively at the sides of the top panel and each side frame having a wheel mount formed on the side frame, corresponding to one of the side walls on the rail and extending into a corresponding one of the rail spaces between the corresponding side wall and a corresponding rail plate of the rail; and multiple wheels rotatably and respectively attached to the wheel mounts of the side frames, held respectively inside the rail spaces in the rail and abutting respectively with the rail flanges on the side walls of the rail.
 12. The pedal assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein each rail flange on the rail has a curved cross section. 